Seventeen former Penn State football players begin their NFL careers in May, when most teams host rookie minicamps or OTAs. That includes eight draft picks and two undrafed Nittany Lions who earned minicamp invitations with hopes of continuing their NFL careers. <\/p>\n
The NFL Draft celebrations <\/strong><\/a>are over. Now it’s time for the Nittany Lions to get to work. Here’s where they stand.<\/p>\n \u2014 Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) April 27, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n After seven Nittany Lions signed free-agent deals<\/strong><\/a>, two more former Penn State players earned invites to rookie minicamps. Receiver Liam Clifford will participate in Indianapolis Colts minicamp May 8-9, and punter Gabe Nwosu gets his shot with the Pittsburgh Steelers on the same dates.<\/p>\n Clifford spent five seasons at Penn State, playing two seasons with his brother Sean, the quarterback who now plays for their hometown Cincinnati Bengals. Liam Clifford played in 52 games at Penn State, making 42 catches, including one for a touchdown in 2024.<\/p>\n Clifford does bring some versatility to Indianapolis. He scored on a blocked punt against UCLA last October and became Penn State’s emergency backup quarterback<\/strong><\/a> following Drew Allar’s midseason injury. <\/p>\n Nwosu was Penn State’s kickoff specialist for two seasons before adding the punter’s role last year. He averaged 46 yards per attempt with a long of 68 and 11 punts of 50+ yards. With a big body (6-6, 292) and a power leg, Nwosu might turn heads in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n Rookie deal signed for first-round pick @vegaioane17<\/a>!! pic.twitter.com\/2BozoKRtYI<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n Ioane signed his contract with the Baltimore Ravens one day before minicamp started. According to Spotrac, Ioane’s four-year deal<\/strong><\/a> is worth contract is worth a total of $24.3 million, including a $14 million signing bonus. <\/p>\n Ioane became the second Penn State offensive lineman in three years selected in the first round and should move quickly into the Ravens’ starting lineup. He was consistently scouted among the draft’s most NFL-ready prospects<\/strong><\/a> and is expected to be an immediate contributor.<\/p>\n Can\u2019t wait to compete @NickSingletonn<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/TsQ8UBXJ32<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Tennessee Titans (@Titans) April 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n Singleton wasted little time signing as well, agreeing to a four-year deal with the Tennessee Titans worth $4.7 million, according to Spotrac. That includes a signing bonus of about $468,000.<\/p>\n Singleton took a long road to the NFL<\/strong><\/a>, going from a potential first-round pick to a fifth-rounder following a disappointing senior season and a January injury at the Senior Bowl. However, Singleton said he’s getting healthier and expects to be at full strength for preseason camp.<\/p>\n \u26ab\ufe0f\ud83d\udfe1\u26ab\ufe0f\ud83d\udfe1\u26ab\ufe0f\ud83d\udfe1@AllarDrew<\/a> x @steelers<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/PaDMsOknWx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) April 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n The debate about Allar and Pittsburgh has begun and will enter its first evualtion period beginning May 8, when rookie minicamp opens. There, Allar will begin proving that he’s healthy again following last season’s injury and worthy of the Steelers’ third-round belief.<\/p>\n Terry Smith, Penn State’s assistant head coach, prodded the conversation along this week during an appearance on Pittsburgh radio station 93.7 The Fan. Smith said that Penn State’s offense “wasn’t built”<\/strong><\/a> for Allar, whose pro-style traits were wedged into a multiple offense.<\/p>\n “He’s a guy that can make every throw. He\u2019s super smart, he\u2019s a fast learner, he picks things up really quickly,” Smith said. “I just think, with the right coaching, the right direction, obviously in the best scenario you want a guy like Aaron Rodgers to come back and really teach a guy like this how to be a pro and be a pro\u2019s pro, much like Aaron Rodgers learned from Brett Favre. So that\u2019s an ideal situation. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen. But I think Drew has all the physical attributes and mental makeup to really be a good pro.”<\/p>\n From one iconic uniform to another. @drewshelt7<\/a> x @dallascowboys<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/eGEeiOk6Jt<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) April 30, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n Want to track your favorite former Nittany Lions in their NFL rookie minicamps? Here’s when they begin:<\/p>\n Sign up to our free <\/em>Penn State Nittany Lions newsletter<\/strong><\/em><\/a> and follow us on <\/em>social media<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\nClifford, Nwosu earn a chance<\/h3>\n
Olaivavega Ioane signs with Baltimore<\/h3>\n
\n
Nicholas Singleton signs with Tennessee<\/h3>\n
\n
Where does Drew Allar fit into Pittsburgh’s plans?<\/h3>\n
\n
When the other Nittany Lions begin rookie minicamps<\/h3>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
![\"Football\"](\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" "\\"Football\\""){kind=icon}
Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n